Medicaid Awareness Month Brings Focus to Essential Health Coverage
In recognition of the vital role Medicaid plays in the lives of millions of Americans, including children, adults, pregnant women, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNW) and the Northern Michigan Public Health Alliance (NMPHA) are coming together this April to raise awareness about the comprehensive benefits Medicaid offers.
HDNW is encouraging residents to explore how this program enhances the health and well-being of our communities. Medicaid provides healthcare to over 90 million Americans, ensuring Michigan residents have access to affordable care, whether for routine check-ups or health challenges.
“For many individuals, the fact that they don’t know what to expect and what they need is a huge barrier to pursuing insurance,” says Karlene Howard, Community Health Worker at HDNW. “With a sick toddler as their focus, one local family was struggling to get health insurance to help cover necessary medical care. Knowing they qualified based on income guidelines, they applied three times – only to be rejected without detailed explanation.”
Ready to Help
Through a referral to Community Connections (CC), a free program offered by HDNW, the family was paired with Howard who helped walk them through the process. Minor mistakes had been made in the online application process, but with Howard’s help, the family qualified for the Medicaid plan that they needed and could better focus on caring for their child.
- Medicaid covers services that are offered through Medicaid Health Plans.
- The Health Insurance Marketplace is a federal website where people without insurance can learn about available insurance plans. To explore this more, visit gov.
- Healthy Kids provides free health insurance for pregnant women and children ages 0-19. This coverage can include doctor visits, dental and vision services, lab fees, prescriptions, hospital expenses, and other services normally covered by Medicaid.
- Michigan Child (MIChild) helps to provide health insurance coverage for uninsured children ages 0-19, offering similar services as Healthy Kids. The cost is $10 per family per month.
- Healthy Michigan Plan is another option that provides health care benefits to Michigan residents at low cost so more people can have health care coverage. If you do not qualify for other health care coverage, Healthy Michigan Plan could be right for you.
With numerous options and eligibility requirements, HDNW is here to answer questions about eligibility or enrollment. Simply call 800-432-4121 to speak with a local representative who will guide you through the health insurance enrollment process with ease, or can help answer any questions you might have.
